tar command "end of tape " error ?

[Frank Li]

Hi, when I tar a directory , it prompts "end of tape" error . In fact , I don't use tape for the tar file ! what's the problem ?

The command I use is :
cd /export/home2
tar cvf /export/home/snc.tar snc

I have checked the file system of /export/home , I has lots of free disk .

thanks.
Frank.

[Victor BERRIDGE]

Hi,
When end-of-tape is reached, tar should prompt the user for a new special file and continues, are you sure you have no quota set, since you are sure to have enough space?

Just thoughts
All the best
Victor

[Vincenzo Restuccia]

try tar cvf /export/home/snc.tar ./snc if snc is a directory ./snc/*

[Frank Li]

There is no quota on the any file system on this machine , I have double checked it .

and I use the way :
tar cvf /export/apps/snc.tar ./snc or
tar cvf /export/apps/snc.tar ./snc/*
both prompts the same problem .

In fact , if I use /export/home instead of /export/apps , the problem also exists.


And there are lots of free on both file system .

Once the problem happeded , the tar is almosts 2G .

What's the problem ? your answer will be greatly appreciated !

thans.
Frank.

[Wieslaw Krajewski · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Just an idea. What, as I think, could be a reason of the End-of-tape message. In the last question you have mentioned 2GB. Probably your file system, where you want to store tar archive is the file system that do not support largefiles, greater than 2GB. By default small files are supported (size < 2GB).
You should use file system created with option
-o largefiles or transform your file system, you use to store tar archive, to allow files greater than 2GB. the command fsadm is to be used to make this transformation.

Hope this helps.
Tgds.

[Vincenzo Restuccia]

Wieslaw is right but tar is ok only with file <2Gb.

[Wieslaw Krajewski]

hi,

That's true. Using tar we can archive only "small" files,
under 2GB. But as concernstar archive itself, cn be greter than 2 GB.

Rgds.

[Victor BERRIDGE]

The above replies are correct,I went through the same experience trying to tar oracle APP for cloning, I fell on the 2Gb limit...

Good luck
Victor